A new book examined the contemporary patterning of identities based on class and community, gender and generation, 'race', faith and ethnicity, and derived from popular culture. The contributors explored debates about social change, individualization, and the re-making of social class. They considered the evidence for new 'convivial multicultures' in ethnically diverse urban metropolitan centres, and the manifestations of more 'fragile' white identities in the provinces.
Source: Margaret Wetherell (ed.), Identity in the 21st Century: New trends in changing times, Palgrave Macmillan (01256 329242)
Links: Summary | Guardian report
Date: 2009-Nov
An annual report provided information on the composition, characteristics, and behaviour of Scottish households – both nationally and at a sub-national level – based on the 2007-08 Scottish Household Survey.
Source: Scotland's People: Annual report – Results from 2007/2008 Scottish Household Survey, Scottish Government (0131 556 8400)
Links: Report | Scottish Government press release
Date: 2009-Aug
Researchers sought to develop reliable estimates of the size, growth, and geographic distribution of the transgender community.
Source: Bernard Reed, Stephenne Rhodes, Pieta Schofield and Kevan Wylie, Gender Variance in the UK: Prevalence, incidence, growth and geographic distribution, Gender Identity Research and Education Society (01372 801554)
Links: Report
Date: 2009-Jun
The 2009 edition was published of Social Trends. The report provided data on trends in a wide range of social policy areas, with the theme of households, families, and children. Nearly one-third of households with children in England lived in poor housing, nearly one-third of children were classed as overweight or obese, and around one-quarter of young people had been a victim of personal crime. But fewer children were living in low-income households, and more children were taking part in school sports.
Source: Matthew Hughes (ed.), Social Trends 39: 2009 edition, Office for National Statistics, Palgrave Macmillan (01256 329242)
Links: Report | ONS press release (1) | ONS press release (2) | ONS press release (3) | ONS press release (4) | Telegraph report (1) | Telegraph report (2) | Telegraph report (3) | Guardian report | FT report (1) | FT report (2)
Date: 2009-Apr
The 25th British Social Attitudes report was published. It described the state of public attitudes towards: the National Health Service; 'choice' and private sector involvement in public services; airfares and the environmental impact of air travel; emotional support and the 'therapy culture'; devolution; welfare provision and work commitment; parenthood and personal values; and leisure choices.
Source: Alison Park, John Curtice, Katarina Thomson, Miranda Phillips and Elizabeth Clery (eds.), British Social Attitudes: The 25th Report, SAGE Publications Ltd (020 7324 8500)
Links: Summary | NatCen press release | Guardian report
Date: 2009-Jan